Ratchet wrench



C. R. BRYANT RATCHET WRENCH Sept. 4, 1923.

Filed Jan. 5. A1921 INVENTOR ATTQRNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

CLARENCE ROSS BRYANT, OF CHICAGO, LLINOIS.

RATCHET WRENCH.

Application iled January 3, 1921. Serial No. 434,729.

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARENCE R. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ratchet Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to ratchet wrenches and an object of the invention is to provide a reversible ratchet wrench which is simple in construction and may be manufactured at a relatively lo-w cost, as well las one which, owing to its particular construction, lends itself for use in turning nuts or bolts in close places where only short strokes inai,v be had in turning a nut or bolt.

Another obj ectof this invention is to provide a ratchet wrench as specified which is reversible and may be reversed, if desired, during use, it comprising a handle member adapted to receive therein the ratchet portion of a socket wrench permitting the use of various sizes of sockets with the handle structure.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the improved ratchet wrench.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the ratchet wrench.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section 4 through the handle end of the socket wrench.

Fig. 4 is an end view of a detail of the handle structure.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the pawl of the ratchet wrench.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the improved ratchet wrench comprises the handle portion 1 including a tubular shell 2 which has a head 3 formed upon one end thereof and extending transversely of the shell. The head 3 opens out at one side of the handle 1 and is adapted to receive therein the ratcheted portion 4 of a socket or turning member 5. The ratcheted portion 4 of the socket wrench turning member 5 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending recesses 6 having straight sides, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. and forming the ratchet recesses for receiving the bill? of the pawl 8 of the wrench structure. The bill 7 is formed by the cutting away of a portion of one end of a rod, and curving the remaining portion conveXly merging it into the circumference of the straight sides of one of the ratchet recesses 6. rlhe pawl' 8 extends longitudinally within theA tubular shell 2 and' is formed upon one end 4of the rod 10 which vis reduced in diameter relative to the pawl portion 8. A head 11 .is mounted upon the outer end of the rod 10 and is provided with a reduced cylindrical portion 12 which fits in to the outer open endof the shell 2 and the inward rotary movement of vwhich is limited by a pin 13. The cylindrical portion 12 of the head 11 is provided with diametrically opposed slots 14 extending longitudinally therein from its inner end which slots are adapted to receive the pin 13 to permit limited inward movement of the cylindrical portion 12 in the shell 2. A collar '15 is carried by the rod 10 and a spiral spring 16 abuts this collar and the outer end of the pawl 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The spring normally urges the pawl inward for forcing the bill 7 in engagement with one of the ratchet recesses 6 in the socket wrench 5 and permits yieldable movement ofthe pawl y8 and rod 10 when the handle structure 1,is rotated to move the convex end portion 18 of the pawl over the ratcheted surface of the portion 4 of the socket wrench when a new bite is being taken on the socket wrench. For reversing the wrench the rod 10, pawl 8, carried thereby, and head 11 are moved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, tensioning the spring 16 and moving the bill 7 out of the socket recess 6 after which the head 11 is rotated one-half turn positioning the shoulder 9 in the opposite direction to that in which it was originally positioned, then when the head 11 is released the spring 16 will urge the pawl 8 and rod 10 inwardly, into operative relation with the socket wrench. In case there is no socket wrench 5 in the head 3 the inward movement of the pawl is limited by the annular shoulder 19 formed on the head 11 coming in engagement with the end of the shell 2.

The ratcheted portion 4 of the socket wrench 5 is of substantially the same diameter as the recess in the head 3 so as to provide a snug fit bearing surface between the head and portion4 for rotatably supporting the socket wrench. It is to be understood, of course, that various sized socket Wrenches ma)7 be employed in connection with the handle structure, the portions 4l oi which are all of uniform size to properly lit in the head 3.

It is, of course, to be understood that the invention may be constructed in vari-ous other manners and the parts associated in different relations and, therefore7 I do not desire to be limited in anj,7 manner except as set forth in the claim hereunto appended.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

In a ratchet Wrench, a tubular handle, a head on one end 'of the handle, a socket Wrench having-a ratcheted portion rotatably seated in said head7 `a paWl rotatable and longitudinally movable in said handle, a spring` urging said pawl into operative position relative to said ratoheted portion, a head connected to said pawl for Withdraw ing the pawl from operative relation with said ratchet-ed portion, a cylindrical portion on said head and extended :into sahF handle, a pin Carried transverselyb;7 said handle, said oylinf rioal portion provided with slots extending longitudinally therein from its inner end and adapted to receive said pin to limit inward movement of the cylindrical portion into the handle.

In testimony whereof Iv aiiix my signature.

CLARENCE ROSS BRYA NT. 

